Elite corruption label of previous, not current gov’t – ruling party Sec-Gen on PM wife’s expensive outfit

Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party and a Mayor of Tbilisi, on Thursday responded to a social media post depicting Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s wife in an expensive outfit and jewelry at the recent official repetition, claiming unlike previous officials, the current authorities “never use” budget funds for own purposes. 

 

In his press comments, Kaladze claimed Garibashvili’s property and incomes had been “fully reflected” in his declaration and was “available to everyone”.

 

“I will tell you one thing – today in Georgia, no high-ranking official, even if he is the PM, dares to finance his lovers from the budget, or massage specialists”, Kaladze said in reference to the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who had been charged with embezzlement of budget funds. 

 

The social media banner by Studio Monitor, that went viral on Wednesday, said Garibashvili’s wife, who is unemployed now,  appeared with an outfit and jewelry worth of thousands of dollars at the reception in Tbilisi dedicated to the France’s national day on July 14, adding Garibashvili’s annual incomes, according to his official declaration, was only $17,000.